03/10/2009

User 1:Age 25 – 35. Bob the lawyer has a frantic schedule. He lives in an Manhattan, enjoys minimalist decorations in his apartment, as well as organically designed furnishings. He also enjoys working out, hiking, and reading, although rarely has time to indulge in any of these pleasures. The FlyAway lamp would be ideal for Jeffery because his lifestyle is conducive to stress. The lamp creates an engaging way for him to deal with it through simple, short breathing exercises. The lights inside, resembling fireflies, serve as a guide for meditation. Adding an ambient light to his apartment could also create a more relaxing environment.

User 2:Age 4 – 10. Suzy is a 8 -year-old elementary school student. She loves insects, and playing outdoors. She also has extremely high amounts of energy. So much that sometimes she can’t even get to sleep! Suzy would enjoy the FlyAway lamp because it would bring her favorite insect (the firefly) into her room whenever she pleases. The lamp would provide her with a nightlight, as well as some friends to keep her company when she gets lonely or scared at night.

Studious , environmentally aware, college student. Age 18- 21, Male or Female. This User spends a majority of his or her time at college and most likely is staying within the schools provided housing. The User therefore is keen on individualizing his or her own space with something that firstly ; fits the price parameters of a students budget while simultaneously yields an organic quality (to portray his or her love for the environment without necessarily being labeled as a Tree Huger) Moreover, due to the users studious nature he needs an item that will not necessarily distract them while their taking their much needed shut eye, while still gradually emphasizing the passage of time, ll be it subtly.

The Lit-pot would entail cater to this users specific wants. Its raw material components comprising of 100% recycled plastic and handmade paper would excite the nature lover within while its abstract, aesthetic quality would attract the modern teen as well. Furthermore the gradual depiction of time through gentle fade ins and outs allows the user to work/sleep without necessarily distracting him or her but conversely provides a soothing experience.

User 2:

Fresh out of college, up and coming working men and women. Age 25- 28, Male or Female. This User spends a majority of his time out of his living environment, using the home as a spot for rest and relaxation predominately. The user frequents the New york social scene and hosts a lot of house parties. The user also has a lot of DIY , construct your self furniture lining the inside of her humble abode mainly due to its affordability especially during the early stages of ones work career.

The Lit-Pot therefore caters to this users needs by providing a tool that heightens ambience during any intimate social gathering whist posing to be of little distraction. The raw nature of its materials should reflect into a low cost as well( which would meet the monetary requirement of a new to work male or female. It also can act as an adequate replacement for a candle and simultaneously depict the passage of time, ill be it somewhat abstractly.

1)
Show your integrated prototypes, look & feel, and role prototypes to others (preferably your ideal users) and
get user feedback. Do 4-5 hours of this user-testing and
user-feedback. Record and blog the results.

2)Make
any changes or additions to any of your prototypes or sketches, so as
to better communicate the concept embedded in the prototype to your
users.

I added 3 functional switches and on button that isn't yet functional to my prototype. One switch open and closes the circuit, and the other two open and close a series of leds in a row. Instead of modifying the code, I just wired the circuit logic to achieved the desired effects.

03/03/2009

I wasn't able to work on this project this mMonday since my project was locked in the building. Right now, it isn't functioning the way I want it to. I seem to be having trouble with embedding loops and debouncing simultaneously.

Here's the code

int inPin1 = 2; // the number of the input pins

int inPin2 = 4;

int inPin3 = 7;

int outPin1 = 11; // the number of the output pins

int outPin2 = 10;

int outPin3 = 9;

int outPin4 = 6;

int outPin5 = 13;

int outPin6 = 5;

int outPin7 = 3;

int outPin8 = 8;

int outPin9 = 12;

int state1 = LOW; // the current states of the output pins

int state2 = LOW;

int state3 = LOW;

int reading1; // the current readings from the input pins

int reading2;

int reading3;

int previous1 = LOW; // the previous readings from the input pins

int previous2 = LOW;

int previous3 = LOW;

long time = 0; // the last time the output pin was toggled

long debounce = 200; // the debounce time, increase if the output flickers